WITH COMMONWEALTH Games coming under flak over the irregularities committed by the Organising Committee, Managing Worker and chairman of Sahara group, Subrata Roy has made an emotional appeal to the media to restrain from slamming the Commonwealth Games until the games are over.
In an emotional appeal to the Indian media, Subrata Roy asked, “Whether for the wrongs of maybe a hundred people, should the hopes and aspirations of 1.2 billion people be crushed?” He further stated, “The immediate need is to create an exceedingly positive environment for the present organizers and genuine workers to make the Games a grand success befitting the great image of our nation.”
Asserting that media had overdone the negative coverage on Commonwealth Games, Roy said, “we must accept that media has already overdone it, causing very big damage in maligning the image of our country. Certainly the media on its parts should not forgive the culprits but it should postpone its campaign until after the successful staging of the Commonwealth Games.”
Making it clear that wrongdoers should not go scot-free, Roy further said that although he did not know as to who were the culprits or how many people misappropriated the money meant for the organisation of the games, but those responsible for pushing back the preparations must be punished.
“The culprits most definitely need to be punished with all their misdeeds thoroughly investigated and all sorts of checks and audits duly conducted by going deep into the matters related to purchase, negotiations and payments etc”, he said, however, adding that all this should be done after the greatest sporting event to be held in the country is over.
The Sahara chairperson in his appeal remarked that the continuous negative coverage of the Commonwealth Games was creating a feeling of withdrawal and detachment among the organisers and volunteers, who were feeling “totally demoralised and dejected.” He went on to say that such kind of negative publicity would cast a shadow on the successful conduct of the games as people will have a bad impression even before the games start.
Roy further said that people in the country and also visitors from abroad, who will come to participate and watch the games are already stung by the controversy and the need of the hour is to maintain a balanced approach.
It is pertinent to mention here that newspapers and channels are full of headlines and stories putting a question mark over the manner in which the Games are being organised. Allegations referring to kickbacks, nepotism, fake payments have been making the rounds ever since the case of a British company receiving undue benefits was exposed.
The appeal by Subrata Roy assumes special significance as Sahara group has been closely associated with Indian sports, particularly hockey and cricket.
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